Computer and Information Sciences at University of Phoenix-Arizona

This University of Phoenix computer science associate's program delivers exceptional earning power compared to national standards, placing graduates in the 94th percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $48,236—nearly $13,000 above the national median for this field. However, the premium comes at a cost: while debt levels are reasonable at $23,849 (well below Arizona's median for this program), you're paying significantly more than the national average of $14,932.

The concerning trend is the earnings decline from year one to year four, dropping to $46,645. This negative growth is unusual for tech fields and suggests graduates may face career progression challenges despite strong starting salaries. Within Arizona, the program performs solidly at the 60th percentile, meaning it's competitive locally but not exceptional.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 is manageable, and the strong initial placement suggests the program has good industry connections. However, the stagnant earnings growth raises questions about long-term career development. If your child can secure one of those high-paying initial positions and use it as a stepping stone, this could work well. But given the premium price and earnings plateau, you might want to compare this carefully against more affordable in-state community college options that could deliver similar outcomes at a fraction of the cost.